Quick Ride

QUICK RIDE

ROUNDUP

MOTO GUZZI QUOTA Mild-mannered monsterbike

DOES THIS ITALIAN RALLY-styled bike have an identity problem? No. Yes. Well, er, maybe.

“This is not an off-road bike, this is a gran turisimo motorcycle,” said Moto Guzzi sales chief Guido Ranalli as he handed me the keys to one of the first Quotas off the production line.

Unfortunately, there’s just one detail standing between that statement and the actual, practical facts of the matter. That detail concerns the Quota 1000’s incredible size.

The thing is a monster, its wheelbase a whopping 63.8 inches, its seat height a nosebleedy 34.5 inches. I’m 6 feet tall, and not only do I need to stand on tiptoe to mount the Quota, I can’t touch both feet on the ground at a traffic light. With a claimed dry weight of 464 pounds, humping the Quota on and off the centerstand is a major feat of strength and dexterity, and one that’s required, unfortunately, by the absence of a sidestand.

In spite of its size, the Quota, priced at $11,300 and available only in Europe, is an easygoing motorcycle, thanks to its use of electronic fuel-injection and engine-management systems. With them, the Quota’s twovalve-per-cylinder, pushrod, 949cc engine delivers a claimed 70 horsepower at 6600 rpm and provides a massive, very flat torque curve, with 58.5 footpounds available at 6000 rpm, and no less than 56 foot-pounds on tap at 3400 rpm.

Though the five-speed gearbox has well-chosen ratios and a precise, smooth action, you hardly need to use it, for the Quota will pull cleanly away in top gear from as low as 1500 rpm, making this hunk of a motorcycle unexpectedly easy to handle.

Road grip and suspension action are excellent, thanks to specially designed Pirelli tires-a 21-inch front and 17inch rear-and Marzocchi-supplied fork and single rear shock. The suspension offers 9.4 inches of travel up front and 7.9 inches at the rear-one of the reasons, obviously, for the Quota’s rangy stance.

All this suspension travel doesn’t detract from the Quota’s handling. It offers neutral, positive steering and good traction out of corners, thanks to its solid chassis and well-thoughtout suspension settings. With a claimed top speed of 125 mph, the Quota certainly has the capability to fulfill Guzzi’s gran turisimo claim for it.

Braking potential from twin 11-inch front discs, each acted upon by a four-piston caliper, is good, even if the narrow footprint of the 21 -inch front tire prevents you from exploiting the brakes to the full. Ultra-soft fork springs, however, result in far too much dive when the brakes are nailed.

All in all, the Quota is a smooth, sophisticated ride, but one that is highly idiosyncratic. With a little work, the Quota could be one of the great twincylinder roadbikes of the modern era. Guzzi has done all the difficult stuff-the great engine package, the excellent rear suspension, the quiet, stainlesssteel exhaust. It would be so easy to do the rest right. Just add stiffer fork springs, bigger frontbrake rotors, a 17-inch front wheel and a lower seat height.

Until then, though, the Quota remains interesting, but not altogether appealing.

-Alan Cathcart